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It was a chilling representation of Uhah’s nightmare, a haunting dance of light and darkness.
The sounds emerging from this tempestuous vision were even more troubling: innocent laughter of children transitioning abruptly to horrified screams, intermittent sounds of roaring flames, loud cracking reminiscent of breaking bones or collapsing buildings, and the ominous echo of things crashing down.
I’d ventured into countless dreams, facing specters of fears and phantoms of past mistakes.
Nothing I had ever encountered prepared me for the overwhelming dread exuding from Uhah’s nightmare.
“It’s intensifying,” I remarked, not tearing my eyes away from the sight.
“I’ve never seen a nightmare this dark,” Grace murmured, her voice quivering with a mix of fear and determination.
She squeezed my hand, her fingers cold yet grounding, as we silently shared a mutual understanding.
We had to step in, confront this nightmare, and hopefully quell the storm.
Taking a deep breath, tasting the acrid, electrified air of the dreamworld, I whispered to Grace:
“Ready?”
She nodded, her eyes reflecting the determination I felt burning within me.
And with that shared glance, we stepped forward, allowing the darkness to envelop us, pulling us into the very heart of the nightmare.
The moment our feet landed on “solid” ground, I realized where we were.
The ground beneath us consisted of an elaborate pattern of alternating black and white tiles, seemingly suspended in a void.
Above, below, and all around, fragments of various materials orbited the pathway — wooden planks, shards of colored glass, and even swirling whirlpools of what appeared to be water, all caught in an eternal dance of weightlessness.
Grace’s eyes widened as she took in the surreal scene.
She turned to me, her gaze a mixture of awe and curiosity. “Tix… where are we?”
I gave her a small, reassuring smile. “This is one of the fragmented dream realms I’ve encountered numerous times in my voyages. It’s like a protective barrier or defense mechanism for certain dreamers. Think of it as layers of security for a person’s deepest, most guarded memories.”
She stepped closer to me, wrapping her fingers around my arm, her touch both comforting and grounding amidst the bizarre surroundings. “It’s mesmerizing,” she murmured, her breath a soft whisper against my ear, carrying the aroma of roses, a sensation that momentarily made me forget our environment.
Shaking my head to refocus, I continued:
“It’s more than just beautiful, Grace. Every dream has its own rules and challenges. As far as I understand, there are five levels of defenses in this place.”
Grace tilted her head, casting me a curious glance. “How many have you managed to navigate?”
I let out a rueful chuckle, the sound echoing slightly in the vast expanse. “Two. The third one… it’s been an enigma. I’ve never been able to surpass it.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “Well, let’s see if together we can break that barrier.”
We began walking along the monochromatic pathway.
The tiles were cool under our feet, contrasting with the warmth of Grace’s hand in mine.
The soft hum of the orbiting fragments created a constant, almost hypnotic, background melody.
The first defense came quickly.
Ahead, the pathway led to an ancient-looking stone gate, standing wide open, flanked by worn yet intricately carved pillars.
The gateway’s crown was an imposing stone gargoyle, with its maw open and eyes that seemed to bore right through me.
